Eida Chareidis Ravaad HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita spoke out during a weekly shiur in his yeshiva gedola in Ramot about “rebbis in yeshivos who out of modesty do not wear a ‘frock’ (פראך – long jacket) and he feels it is preferred that they return to this custom.
“אותם רמי”ם בישיבות שמתוך ענוותנותם מסרבים ללבוש בגדי שררה המיוחדים לרמי”ם, טוב היה אם יחזירו עטרה ליושנה”.
Rav Sternbuch expounded, explaining “the kohanim had special garments in the Beis HaMikdash, explaining the priestly garments were very respectful, bringing honor to HKBH, honor and glory”. The rav added HKBH insists that kohanim serving him wear these garments to keep him from becoming distracted during his avoda and to instill fear on those who came to the Beis HaMikdash; seeing the greatness, the glory and honor of the priestly garments.
Rav Sternbuch feels the same should apply for rabbonim today, for their appearance can also impact talmidim and they should therefore wear appropriate garb, including a frock. This the rav feels assists in differentiating them from the general population towards maintaining an awareness of their special mission. This also brings talmidim to an awareness the rebbe is on a different level than they are, preserving and increasing respect given to rebbis.
Rav Sternbuch feels today this is not always the case as many feel wearing a frock is not modest and they run from such a garment, preferring the regular garments of a ‘hedyot’ (הדיוט). Rav Sternbuch refers to Gemara Sanhedrin 83:B to persuade rebbis to return to the long jacket, the attire of a rebbe as he sees it.
“בזמן שבגדיהם עליהם כהונתם עליהם”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Is this really important?!
Some of our most chashuva gedolim in America do not wear a frock. It may scare off their talmidim and balabatim.. How different the thought process between U.S. and Israel is —
I guess it’s a machloikes, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita feels it’s important and zionflag feels it’s not.
“Is this really important?”
Well apparently the Rosh Av Beis Din of the Aidah HaChareidis thinks it is.
So even if the thought process (read p’sak) is different between US (Poskim and Gedolim) and Israel (Eretz Yisroel’s Poskim and Gedolim), so be it, but let’s, please not dismiss so easily the “thought process” of HaRav Moshe Sternbuch.
With the greatest respect to the Rav, I don’t understand why this is a prominent headline on YWN. How many people does this affect? I’m not sure if the Rav has made any statements about CSA, but I think this issue says more about “kavod haRav” than what a rebbi wears. CSA has had more impact on how people view Rabbonim today than any other topic.
Does the ראב״ד mean a Frock דוקא or a Long jacket?
For SOME Charedim the outer appearance seams to be more important than the inner one. A person should get respect for the good/knowledgeable person he is not because his/her outfit. We respect and belive in HaShem for what HaShem is not for the outfit. Git Shabbes!
It opens a whole can of worms:- Where does this leave the assistant or associate or acting or substitute or emeritus or intern Rabbis & Ramim?
“scare off”?
Who in the world is scared off?
In light of the fact that we are talking about something that Rav Shternbuch said, is your reaction to it really important? (When was the last time someone consulted you with a shailo in halacha or studied one of your seforim?)
Usnebech
Do u have teenage boys??
Most that are in regular mesfitas (not chassidish) especially out of town bond with Rabbeim & Maggid Shiur that are chashuva dressed in Shabbos garb & not frock.
Rav Sternbuch shlita decision is for Chadorim & Yeshiva Ketanos under his hashpaah
Rav Sternbuch has issued his opinion on recently on a matter that is a lot more important and surely a lot more on his mind then this!
This is a diversion tactic from the real issue that is going on these days…
I learned in Yeshivos where many of the Rabbanim did not wear Frocks and some of them were extremely chashuv Rabbanim. Regardless, many of us talmidim would have been very happy to see them with a frock on. There is no question that it creates an aura of respect. The machlokes seems to be who is fitting to wear one. I have met many whom chose not to feeling that they are not worthy of it. I have NEVER met a R”M that did not because he was worried that it would scare people.
The line, “It may scare off their talmidim and balabatim” is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion.